Salunke DS; Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974.

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2347-5374 (Online) Sch. J. Arts Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974 ISSN 2347-9493 (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publishers (SAS Publishers) (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources)

Pandit ’s Speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’: Some Implications Dr. D. S. Salunke Assistant Professor, Department of English, Vinayakrao Patil College, Vaijapur, Dist. Aurangabad-423701, Maharashtra

*Corresponding Author: Dr. D. S. Salunke Email: [email protected]

Abstract: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the independent , delivered a speech entitled “Tryst with destiny” towards midnight on 14August 1947. Speaking from the ramparts of the historical Red Fort in Delhi, he addressed the speech to the Constituent Assembly and to the millions of Indians as well. In his brief and passionate speech, he refers to many important issues concerning India‟s past, present and future and dwells on the deeper raison d‟etre of the upcoming freedom. He lauds the distinction of India in terms of its constant engagement with the spiritual quest it pursued from the dawn of history; celebrates the significance of the present moment and outlines what path India ought to pursue in future. It is a symbolic speech and has multiple implications having relevance even circumstances that exist today. It has also been a wonderful piece of literature in terms of theme. The paper interprets the symbolic meaning of the brief speech by comparing it with Lincoln‟s Gettysberg address and Thomas Jefferson‟s Declaration of Independence. While making us aware of the responsibility, Nehru enlarges the context of freedom in the light of well- being of the whole humanity. The account given below gives a critical perspective on the central motif of “destiny” that constantly figures in Nehru‟s speeches. It emphasizes the value of non-violence, the glorious legacy of culture and carves out the blue-print for building a prosperous and democratic Indian nation. Keywords: freedom, future, responsibility, blue-print, democratic

Introduction: Some words, some speeches by great men are She was forced to sleep due to suppression for always remembered by people for generations. Because one and half a century and sometimes it appeared as if it of their universal appeal they become timeless. is dead, but it was not so. At the advent of freedom, the Speeches of great leaders have their unique place and soul has begun to utter something in whisper as her value in literary history. Such valuable words serve asa freedom of speech was banned for years under the torch bearer for the generations to come. Abraham colonial rule. As noted by Iyengar it is “the modern Lincoln‟s Gettysburg Address, Thomas Jefferson‟s India awakening from the stupor of the centuries and Declaration of the Independence, Martin Luther King‟s taking the first firm steps in the direction of the future” (Jr) I have a Dream have gone down in the history as [2]. The freedom of expression was denied to it. The memorable events. These addresses are often pretty nation of millions took pledge in the past to make India brief but quite inspiring to the people at large. free. Now that much awaited moment has arrived. This Shakespeare called brevity as the soul of wit. In this is natural to a nation forced to be slave, but this sort of particular speech, the tone, substance, occasion, style confusion is a temporary phenomenon. Sri Aurobindo render ample scope for a range of interpretations. agrees that “certainly the outward members were Consequently, the present speech is considered as a becoming gangrened; the powers of renovation seemed superb piece of oration in this millennium. for a moment to be beaten by the powers of stagnation, and stagnation is death. Now that the salvation, the From sleep to awakening: reawakening has come, India will certainly keep her Nehru‟s reverence for freedom and the essential spirit, will keep her characteristic soul” [3]. As aspiration of the whole humanity flows constantly in Discovery of India and Letters from father to a through this brief speech. He points that the stroke of Daughter, the pendulum moves from past to future, and midnight matters because though the rest of the world is the perception of the present which also marks the in deep sleep-the moment matters little for them-India dividing and connecting link is clearly evident. His awakes to life and freedom. “At the stroke of the preoccupation with the history is evident here once midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake again in that he revolutionizes the very definition and to life and freedom.” [1] dynamics of history: “history begins anew for us, the

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Salunke DS; Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974. history which we shall live and act and others will write bonds has been stated in clear terms: “We hold these about”. truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain The concept of pledge: unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty Nehru describes this mission as „a pledge‟, „an and the pursuit of Happiness”[7]. unending quest‟, „the ideal‟, „a triumph‟, „a challenge‟, „a responsibility‟, „an ambition‟, „work‟, „a dream‟, „a The strength: noble mansion‟, „a great adventure‟, „a bold advance‟, Nehru terms this freedom as an opportunity as „an endeavor‟ etc. Through this brief speech Nehru a bright future awaits the nation. Such transitions don‟t outlines the vision for an ideal India. in happen again and again; they are rare. He hints that Foreword to “” remarks that in all of freedom is a means not an end; the end is the triumphs Nehru‟s works “runs the common thread of Nehru‟s and achievements that the suppressed soul could not own vision and ideals-his passionate commitment to realize during the foreign rule. These opportunities democracy and social justice, his intense aversion to bring both material as well as spiritual prospects. At this totalitarianism, and fundamentalism, and his exuberant moment of jubilation, he reminds us of the challenge celebration of India‟s pluralistic culture” [4]. We had that this prospect of freedom has brought with it. So, it made a tryst with the destiny long ago and now we are is in this context that he terms the future that lies ahead to redeem of the pledge. Philosophizing on it, he as being a challenge. The harrowing experience of the contemplates that such pledges cannot be redeemed past has to be forgotten and we need to look at the wholly or in full measures, but they can be fulfilled future full of prospect. And we have every reason to substantially. Unquestionably, it matters much even if look at the future positively. India always had this we redeem such prayers substantially. Therefore he power to bear in mind, through times of ease and refers to this mission of India as being “her unending hardship, the luminous ideal, the quest which quest”. Accordingly, making India free from the yoke constitutes its strength. In her evolution over the eons of foreign rule was the pledge that the Indians had taken she always rediscovered herself. India has been striving long back. Since from this moment India is free, Nehru for this “unending quest” since “the dawn of history”. questions how this sort of freedom would actually By saying this he also underscores the greatness of our work. The speech brilliantly answers this very question. country and so the phrase “the dawn of history” carries It has become relevant once again because the task of a special value and meaning suggesting that even in the freedom has been accomplished; now the next step is to prehistoric times the people in this part of the world wipe tears from the face of the poorest citizen in the were cultured and more conscious and more organized. country. He brings the poor at the helm of affairs. Dr. This is the reason why great civilization called Harappa A. P. J. Abdul Kalam concludes that “Gandhiji‟s flourished on the banks of the rivers in the subcontinent. strikingly simple criterion was that every action Therefore, at this juncture, Nehru asks us to “live up to proposed or contemplated, should in its implementation that high standard”. He aptly describes the Indians as wipe the tears of a poor and downtrodden person” [5]. “the citizens of a great country”. Hard work has been a Both the ideal of nation and freedom remain incomplete national characteristic of the Indian soul. In the past we if the poor are in tears. His main concern is to find out have taken pledges and the time has come to work ways and means in this free nation to improve the lot of harder to fulfill the pledge. Our first priority is to give a the common men, peasants and workers. This is the helping hand to millions who are suffering. This is the challenge that we need to accept in the years to come. meaning of the service that we ought to render to the Unless and until we achieve this object of natural oppressed by the internal and external factors. This we justice, we cannot say for sure that we have redeemed can do by ending poverty, ignorance, disease, inequality the solemn pledge. He further adds that we feel pleased of enjoying this newly opened opportunity. All these that we have redeemed one pledge; we need to take values have been enshrined in “Preamble to the Indian another pledge of dedication to serve India and her Constitution”. people. The pledge can be redeemed only when the fruits reach to the grassroots in this nation. The Spiritual Dimension: In its substance the message here is spiritual. It is this sense of being free that life begins to Nehru adheres to human values and declares that until awaken. Substantial emphasis has been placed on this the last man is made happy, the hard work will special present moment because he remarks that such continue. This courage of conviction to work for the moments are rare in history when the humanity steps cause and care the whole people has a resonance of out from the old to the new. Similar transition has been spirituality that we see in ‟s described in Lincoln’s Gettysberg Address as “a new philosophy of sarvodaya. Inclusive development has birth of freedom” [6]. He describes this transition as the been a central concern in M. K. Gandhi‟s literary “dissolution of the political bands” to the “powers of corpus. This edifice stands on Dignity of labour and the earth”. In the Declaration of Independence the universal equality. The principle of natural justice is an rationale behind this severance of the ties with the old integral part of this speech. He painfully acknowledges

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Salunke DS; Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974. that since there are tears, there is suffering hence there their lives down. To substantiate this Nehru points out is no option to hard work. This has been the dream of that “those dreams are for India, but they are also for our motherland since times immemorial and we have the world.” Thus, the well-being of the Indian people is the strength and resources at our disposal to realize it. also connected with the millions, who live in other parts Nehru transcends the connotation of nationalism when of the world. Nehru is pretty conscious of the fact that he remarks that the dream of India for the cause of the no nation can progress in isolation. He surpassed the sufferers is also the dream of the whole humanity. The other intellectuals in that he expressed the truly global chief cause of suffering of people in the world has been vision of peace, democracy and inclusive progress for described as “a disaster”. We cannot divide this disaster the mankind. Nehru narrates this event in human history into small constituents, and if we venture to do that we from universal standpoint: “It is a fateful moment for us will gain nothing. Peace, freedom, prosperity is in India, for all Asia and for the world”. Being the perceived as a whole, we cannot split them into representative of the sovereign Indian people, it is fragments, as they are the common property of the important to mark Nehru‟s (India‟s) attitude to the rest whole world. An integral vision is indispensable to see of the world. “In finding the solution of our problem we them in the right perspective. Making India a nation of shall have helped to solve the world problem as well. peace and happiness for the masses is a “great What India has been, the whole world is now.” adventure”. He calls upon the people to join hands with faith and confidence. A note of caution: Nehru is also aware of the fact that on such Consideration of the same issue from different occasions people often indulge in criticizing and angles is the distinguishing characteristic of Nehru‟s blaming others. Therefore, he warns people not to attitude. Whether it is opportunity or crisis, he never criticize anyone for whatever has happened in the past fails to analyze its pros and cons. Needless to say, this as it is simply waste of time. Instead, we need to respect quality of analyzing both sides of the subject is evident the future which holds innumerable opportunities. In at this charged moment. He stands out as a prominent moments of exhilaration people often tend to be psychologist conscious of a host of other consequences reckless and critical. He maintains that “narrow- of this prospect of freedom. Whatever Nehru said mindedness” is a major obstacle in the mission of invariably bore emphasis on socialism and by the nation building. Instead, Broad-mindedness is the need doctrine he meant something beyond the stereotype of the hour. Therefore he narrates how on the strength social and economic connotation; instead he embraces a of the principle of non-violence that “the greatest man broad idea of profound change. Bright describes it as “a of our generation”, Mahatma Gandhi endowed us led us change in our instincts, habits and desires. In short, it to the luminous path of freedom. Thus, he reiterates his means a new civilization.” [8]. President Abraham firm faith in non-violence. Implicitly, he conveys that Lincoln‟s Gettysberg Address refers to the “birth of a he is sad over the partition that is dividing the people new nation” that institutes “government of the people, who fought together for this dream. So in this hour of by the people, for the people”. Nehru considers this “rejoice” the “clouds surround us” and there are a host approaching freedom as a first step and adds that even of “difficult problems that encompass us”. He refers to the first step assumes importance. In this context, the millions “who have been cut off from us by the Lincoln‟s emphasis on “the unfinished work” reminds political boundaries”. So he reminds that “freedom us of the kind of ideal for which people of all brings responsibilities” that we “disciplined people” geographical areas, all races pursue in all ages. He must tackle in peaceful and non-violent ways. He not rightly describes it as “the great task remaining before only makes us aware of this responsibility but also us”. He further reinforces this idea as “the government spells out the ways and means to worthily discharge it. of the people, by the people, for the people, (which) It does imply that the destiny of India is not, in any shall not perish from the earth”. way, different from that of the people living in the rest of the world. The relationship between them is The Universal Mission: reciprocal: whatever happens in India has impact in the Underscoring the unity of all the people in the lives of people living other parts of the world and the world Nehru categorically describes all nations as “one events taking place there also affect the life here in world”. Nehru, Lincoln and Jefferson integrate the idea India. “He thinks of India with reference to world of nationalism and that of universal brotherhood. The affairs and he thinks of the world with reference to the appeal here is universal as the freedom of every single world politics” [9]. Nehru also means to say that India individual is at stake. Therefore, it is the pledge to serve has an important role of leadership for the cause of the “India and her people and to the still larger cause of larger humanity. A tone of forgiveness, adherence to humanity.” According to him no matter where we live, peaceful means, co-living and emphasis on nonviolent there are certain universal ideals that connect us. way of life figure up frequently in this speech. His sole Innumerable people, in the course of human history, intention is not that we must turn a blind eye to the past; struggled to for freedom, happiness and equality. For the fact is he expresses a deep reverence to the history such ideals even today all over the world people lay in terms of its inspirational and educational value.

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Salunke DS; Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974.

Conclusion References Nehru‟s thrust till independence was more 1. Tryst with Destiny. 2014. Wikipedia the Free political. In the speeches that he delivered during the Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 November, years of national movement for freedom, he reiterated 2014, from India‟s need for political freedom. He also means that it http://www.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryst_with_Destin is the absence of political independence the socio- y. economic progress of the Indians has been badly 2. Iyengar K; Indian Writing in English, Sterling hampered. Thus the nature of the struggle up to Publishers Private Ltd, New Delhi. 1962, P. 295 independence was more political for he considered 3. Aurobindo, S; The Renaissance in India, Sri political freedom as the basis all round development of Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department, India. From this moment, the priority had a radical Pondicherry. 1997, P.5 shift: the emphasis acquired social dimension. So the 4. Nehru J; An Autobiography, Penguin Books Pvt. large part of the blueprint that he hands over to the Ltd., New Delhi. 1980, Foreword. Indians through this exhortation is a pledge for the 5. Kalam A; India 2020, Penguin Books India Pvt. upliftment of the masses. Ltd., New Delhi. 1998, p.3 6. Gettysburg Address. 2014. Encyclopedia Another striking feature of this document is its Britannica Online. Retrieved 19 November, 2014, spontaneity. We can fairly conclude the scholarship that from he had was beyond any doubt. Besides this, we must http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/23222 imagine the busy and hectic schedule that the first 5/Gettysburg-Address had had on that auspicious 7. Declaration of Independence. 2014. Retrieved 23 evening. Nehru must have contemplated on the content November, 2014, from of the speech through that rapidly changing course of http://www.constitution.org/us_doi.pdf.. events through the evening of 14 August 1947. The 8. Bright J; Important Speeches of Jawaharlal Nehru, spontaneity, naturalness, flow and conviction flows Indian Printing Works, Lahore.1947, P. 102 through it incessantly. 9. Bright J; Important Speeches of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian Printing Works, Lahore.1947, P. 6.

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